Hong Kong -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A South African chef who has worked in New Zealand for six years claims his work visa was denied because of his obesity .

But New Zealand immigration authorities say the visa was denied because the man `` no longer had an acceptable standard of health , '' that his ability to work was in question and that there is potential `` high cost '' of his healthcare .

Albertus Buitenhuis , 50 , as described by his wife , has `` always been on the larger side . '' And the 278-pound man -LRB- 126 kilograms -RRB- says he struggles with his weight .

So how did a chef who specializes in South African cuisine get caught in the crosshairs of two major controversies -- immigration and obesity ?

`` I am a chef , not a politician and I do not want to be the poster child for immigration issues -- but I have become that I feel , '' he told CNN . `` I just want to work and live here . ''

After Buitenhuis and his wife arrived in New Zealand in 2007 , they were granted subsequent visitor and work visas . They settled in the city of Christchurch and Buitenhuis found work at a restaurant , the Cashmere Club , where he became known for his `` curry of the day . ''

Their run-in with immigration began when the couple applied for New Zealand residency in 2011 . To qualify for residency , Buitenhuis had to take several medical tests . After the exams , the immigration authorities found that `` he did not have an acceptable standard of health . ''

Although Buitenhuis withdrew his residency application , his health information was now on record . In May , Immigration New Zealand rejected his work visa application for health reasons .

Immigration New Zealand did not cite Buitenhuis ' weight for rejecting his work visa . The agency stated in a media release that obesity alone is not enough to fail the country 's required health screenings . Instead , it cited a litany of Buitenhuis ' obesity-related complications and stated that he had evidence of chronic knee joint condition , impaired glucose tolerance and enlarged fatty liver . The agency noted that a replacement surgery for Buitenhuis ' knee joint condition could cost over US$ 16,000 -LRB- NZ$ 20,000 -RRB- .

`` The applicant 's ability to work is affected by the chronic knee joint condition that he suffers from , '' the agency stated .

It also listed his `` significant risk of obesity complications '' as diabetes , hypertension , heart disease , obstructive sleep apnea , some cancers and premature joint diseases . The agency 's medical assessors `` have to consider to what extent there might be indications of future high-cost and high-need demand for health services . ''

New Zealand has a public health system , which is free or low cost to users because of government subsidies . Also the country 's immigration policy states that people with a body mass index over 35 are not likely to meet health requirements due to health risks .

Buitenhuis agrees with the notion that countries have to protect their taxpayers from high health expenses .

`` I see no problem with potential immigrants being screened for risks to either national health or maybe becoming a financial burden on the taxpayers , '' he said . `` All countries do that . ''

But he said they would 've wanted to know sooner . He said they 've already put down their roots in New Zealand .

Buitenhuis was heavier at 353 pounds -LRB- 160 kilograms -RRB- when he first arrived to New Zealand . Now 75 pounds lighter , Buitenhuis said he was never warned about not meeting an `` acceptable standard of health '' until about a year ago .

The only previous mention of his weight was when he applied for residency and an agent warned them that `` INZ is very strict on weight and that it was unbelievable that I was actually given a work visa in the first place . ''

The couple has filed an appeal to Immigration New Zealand , which they expect to hear back in two weeks . His doctor has written a letter of support , stating that Buitenhuis had brought his cholesterol and blood pressure under control and that his BMI is high because of his build .

Since May , the couple have had to stop working because they are considered illegal aliens -- which has thrown their lives into turmoil .

`` We 've been kicked out of our home . We 're in the process of losing our phones , we 're going to be cut off . We 're living with my sister , '' he said . `` It hurts your pride , it 's humiliating . ''

The couple hopes to remain in New Zealand as their relatives live there .

`` We committed no crime and did nothing wrong other than my husband being a foodie , '' wrote Marthie Buitenhuis , his wife . `` We also feel that this situation is treated very lightly while it should be abundantly clear to the officials involved with our case that the situation is urgent . ''

Countries are limited in what health screening measures are applied to short-term visitors . But the International Health Regulations , a legally-binding international agreement to prevent the spread of diseases , allows countries to apply additional screenings for people who seek long-term residence because of health expenses picked up by the nation 's services .

Boyd Swinburn , professor of Population Nutrition and Global Health at the University of Auckland , said in an era of growing waistlines and soaring health costs , tough policy decisions have to be made .

`` I think governments are looking for ways to reduce the health care cost burden on the population on the taxpayer , '' he told CNN . `` So they 'll be looking at all sorts of ways to do that . I do n't think it 's an easy call . There are issues on both sides , there 's also population and government decisions . Sometimes , they 're a bit tough . There are no winners , I 'm afraid . ''

More than a quarter -LRB- 28 % -RRB- of New Zealanders are considered obese , which is considerably lower than the United States -LRB- 35.7 % -RRB- .

This is not the first time New Zealand has made headlines on this issue . In 2009 , a 297-pound American woman was denied residency there because of her obesity-related complications , according to the New Zealand Herald . The medical assessor concluded that the woman , who was morbidly obese and diabetic , would cost the health service more than US$ 19,985 -LRB- NZ$ $ 25,000 -RRB- over four years .

`` There 's always been a restriction on immigration based on health issues , so the basic principle has always been , if you 've got a major health problem that 's a drain on the state , that counts against you in immigration , '' Jim Mann , professor of medicine and nutrition at University of Otago in New Zealand , told CNN . `` I do n't think that 's unique in many countries . ''

Countries can test immigrants for infectious diseases like sexually transmitted diseases -LRB- STDs -RRB- or tuberculosis , but the difference is that countries also want to determine beyond potential infections to the economic cost for the state , he said .

`` If someone says to me , ` is your risk greater from a whole range of medical issues because of obesity ? ' Yes it is . I may not like the prejudicial label attached to it . It 's a true fact , '' Mann added .

Madison Park reported and wrote in Hong Kong . Aliza Kassim reported in Atlanta .

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South African chef is denied work visa in New Zealand based on health reasons

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New Zealand immigration : Man did not meet `` acceptable standard of healthy ''

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Authorities cite his obesity-related complications for the rejection